Photographic type-setting machine



Jan. 26 1926a 1,571,170

J. ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE SETTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 1 JMW E0554? 7250M Jan. 26 1926.

J.'ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE SETTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2

1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 26 1926. 1,571,170 J. ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE SETTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 26, 1926.

1,571,170 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ROBERTSON, OF ST. ANNES-ON-THE-SEA, ENGLAND.

rnoroen'arnrc TYPE-SETTING MACHINE.

Application filed January 21, 1922. Serial No. 530,851.

I To all whomz't may concern:

.Be it known that I, JOHN ROBERTSON, a

subject of the King of Great Britain and- Ireland, and a resident of St. Annes-on-the- Sea, county of Lancashire, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Photographic Type-Setting Maill chines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a photographic type-setting machine for setting type by photography for lithographic, ofiset, letterpress, and photogravure printing. The invention consists in employing matrices of either a negative or positive character, dependent upon the type of printing in view, in a type-setting machine with the usual magazine, keyboard, distributor and so forth and embodying therewith a camera attachment for photographing step-by-step the various lines orportions thereof as and when set, the complete block of matter being conveyed photographically by throwing a beam of light through or from a transparent or other matrix and through a lens on to a sensitized plate or film, the latter then being employed in the usual way for preparing the printing block or other device for reproduction.

The invention may be broadly summarized as a typ-setting machine wherein the usual type-casting matrices are replaced by character members suitable for reproduction by photography, hereinafter termed for convenience the matrices, said matrices being capable of setting into a line by the usual machine type-setting keyboard and selective mechanism, there being employed in combination with the type-setting a photographic attachment including a light source, a lens and a carrier for a sensitized member to re- "ceive photographically an impression of the set line of characters when an exposure is made. v p

The invention incorporates various details and features for efi'ecting the foregoing resuit as will be more particularly hereinafterv described. For instance, a suitable construction of matrix is given by way of example, a

mode of throwing light through the matrix on to the camera lens, and various adjust-.

ments for focussing the plate or film; one of the advantages resulting from this invention is that by varying'the focus of the camera, the resultant image on the plate will be greater or less accordingly, and consequently with the one set of matrices avariety of sizes of type images can be obtained.

In carrying out the invention described generally above, it is preferred to embody ieans for justifying a line by photographi' cally enlarging or reducing it the necessary amount of width to make it the length which has been previously decided upon. T he following embodiment describes a mode of automatically focussing to reduce the size, it being convenient to justify under-width lines by mechanical means similar to the.existing expansible or wedge-action space band devices. Working in conjunction with such automatic focussing is a centralizing mechanism for shifting the camera lens laterally to dead-centre of the wide line. Obviously, the reverse may be employed, i. e. moving the line so that its centre is coaxial with the optical system; or, again, the sensitized member may be moved.

in a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention in its approved form, the guideway carrying the matrices from the magazine is formed with a movable part so that each line as and when set by the operator may be automatically raised to photographic position in front of the lens. Although various mechanical movements are described and shown for automatically raising a set line, justifying, centralizing, photographically exposing, and moving the sensitized member step-by-step, it is to be understood that these are merely exemplary, and are susceptible of a wide range of modification within the limits of the invention.

A machine constructed in accordance with the invention will now bedescribed, and to render an understanding clear, reference is directed to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation, various parts being broken away and removed for clearness.

Figure 2 represents asection on the line as, m-Figurb 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view; and,

Figures 4 and 5 are views of a positive matrix employed. Figure 6 is a matrix.

Figures 7 and 8 are views of a space bar.

A machine is constructed in'which the requisite known elements of a type-setting ma- I negative 4 (clear letter, stop, symbol, or the like on a black ground), or positive 5 (the.

reverse). The slideway 3 is fixedly mounted on a transverse vertical wall or standard 6 erected on the base of the machine, and as each line of type matrices is complete, it is moved to a central movable part 7 of the slideway adapted to be raised in register with a shuttered opening 8, in communication with a photographic camera system as hereinafter described. Each line of type is photographed as and when it is positioned by the automatic operation of the typesetting portion of the apparatus. A Bowden cable 10 is shown broken away in Figure 2 which communicates from the shutter of the lens 9 to a suitable position, terminating in means for synchronous actuation according to the cycle of the machine. After exposure, the line of matrices is moved along the slideway away from the central posi tion 7 for distribution to the magazine 2 from the end of the slideway 11 in the known manner.

For the purpose of photographing, any suitable light source is employed, preferably projected through translucent. matrices of the character described and as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In that case, there may be employed an arc lamp projector 12 of trough shape, see Figure 2, disposed in suitable position, whose beam is projected directly through the matrix line or via any suitable mirror system or prism for reflecting the light, through the shuttered opening 8 to the lens combination at 9 of the camera. The shutter 8 is, or may be, regulated by a micrometer adjustment, so that the requisite width of light strips are impressed on the sensitized member; this adjustment is in accordance with the required line spacing, and the vertical travel of the sensitized member line by line works in accordance with such width of light strip. The travel of the sensitized member, hereinafter referred to, may be automatic. 1

An arrangement of photographic camera for use in combination with the foregoing will be described, but it is to be understood a that, apart from the use of adjustments similar in result to those described, the invention is not confined to the employment of the following or any particular camera.

A vertical partition 13 is mounted in a carrier 14 on the base of the machine parallel to the shuttered aperture 8. This partition 13' is constru cted with a focussing jacket carrying a sultable lens, the whole being referred to as 9. Such lens partition 13 is In rear of the lens partition 13 is a support '16 for a glass plate, roll film, or sensltized transfer paper. The support 16 is longitudinally movable along the base in the .manner to be described, and carries an auxiliary frame 17 for finer longitudinal adjustment, Working in conjunction with the justifying device hereinafter to be explained, and being, if desired, furnished with a micrometer screw adjustment 18 to alter the position of the frame 17 for correcting focus, especially for fine adjustment when plates are reversed with the sensitized face to the rear. upper and lower clip frames are adjustable to take any size of plate within wide limits, and, by the racks 20 and 21, the plate is capable of vertical and horizontal move ments for columns and other comparatively large initial adjustments. The main plate carrier frame 22 is suspended in suitable guides by a pair of cables 23 over pulleys 24; on the main supports 16, there being a counterbalance device 25, so that the plate may be lowered by a ratchet engaging the fine rack 26, line by line synchronously with each set line and photographic exposure.

A convenient gearing is employed to effect the roportionate movement of the support 14: carrying the adjustable lens partition 13) and the plate support 16 together, so that various sizes ofmatrix images may be projected in accordance with a predetermined scale of enlargement or reduction with relation to the size of the matrix characters. Such movement is made and the members positioned as a preliminary to typesetting by the operator. In the drawings, by way of example,.is shown a main threaded shaft 27 driven by an electric motor 28, through fast and loose pulleys 29 and 30, and 36 represents a belt-changing device. Rotation of the shaft 27 causes the bracket 31 to travel along, carrying the supports 14 '(which run on rollers 32), and the lens combination, 9, the bellows 15 expanding or contracting. Simultaneously the worm 33 on the extremity of the shaft 27 rotates the cam device 34 and through requisite linkage 35 the plate frame 16 is moved proportionately.

When the power-drive on to shaft 27 is discontinued, a final adjustment may be made by the manual wheel 37.

To instance a mode of elevatin the central guideway part 7, there are illustrated vertical arms38' carrying the guides 7 and adapted to reciprocate through brackets 39;

The

a cross bar attached to the end of the arms 3 is furnished with a roller 41 engaging the periphery of a cam 42.

The ustifying and centralizing movements work in conjunction with the rise and fall of the guideway 7. A cam 43 is designed to withdraw a justifying plunger 44 until the guideway 7 has attained the high position, whereupon. through the quadrant 45 the plunger is returned to abut against the end character in the line of matrices resting in the guideway 7 under the influence of the spring 43 or equivalent means. If the line is of normallength, the position of the plunger 44 is such that the arm 46 comes to rest in a position having no efiect on the focus of the camera. But if the line of matrices is wider than normal, the displacement of the plunger 44 is communicated through quadrant 45 and arm 46 to the cross rod 47. The latter has a cam device or an inclinedrunway 48 which causes the arm 49 to move toward the front plane of the machine. This moves the two rods 50 which are adapted to adjust the carriers 13 and. 17 respectively, each its respective distance as hereinafter explained to so alter the focus as to reduce the photographed image of the line to the normal length. Set screws 51 are furnished so that the rods 50 may be made free from the carriers 13 and 17 when the main focal adjustment shaft 27 is actuated. In connection with this focussing adjustment it has been described how the lens supports 14 and negative supports 16 are initially adjusted by the shaft 27. Whilst this main adjustment is being effected the finer adjustments, hereinafter described with reference to Figure 9 and diagrammatically indicated as a whole by the index 51, are out of action, that is to say may slide on the rods 50, and then can be clamped to move with the rod after the initial adjustments by the shaft 27 have been made. Such finer adjustments are imparted by the rods 50 which move'the inner carriers 13 and 17 in the main supports 14 and 16 respectively, said inner carriers having their bases slidably mounted on the main supports 14 and 16. The rods 50 each carry a pair of cam or other devices (referred to above as the finer adjustment which can be put out of action) to effect the proportionate movements of the carriers 13 and 17-by the one movement of the rods.

To centralize the reduced line, the lens may be laterally moved according to. the position of the arm 46. To accomplish this, there is illustrated a connecting link 52 which oscillates, through pin 53, a lever 54.

The latter, in turn, partially rotates the shaft 57 and b a pinion 55 moves. a racked rm 56 exten ing from the lens jacket 9.

he pinion 55 is slidably keyed to the shaft 57 to travel along same with the carrier 13.

the camera being thereby adjusted. Altcr-' natively, a mechanical method of justifying short lines in typesetting machines may be employed, for instance by using spacewedges (Figures 7 and 8) which wedge into the spaces of the composed line the requisite amount to expand the line as a whole to the normal width; such a form is suitable for use with transparent matrices to engage the upper ends thereof and so permit light to pass between the words. With matrices according to Figure 6, a double-wedge space band of known construction is required to block out the light between the words; and with opaque matrices a double-wedge spacer would be used having its edge black or white according to the background of the matrices. The first part of the slideway 3, or if need be the entire slideway, is clear for the operator to read the matrix line While composing. The composed line automatically moves into the central position of guide 7 for raising and exposure, and thereafter to the outside position 11 for distribution as aforesaid, by way of the known mechanical means employed for a similar purpose in the well known linotype machine.

The broad idea of a machine which is capable of assembling characters into a line, photographing these characters when so assembled and then restoring the characters totheir original position in the machine has plready been proposed and we lay no claim I claim 1. A photographic type setting machine including means for supporting a sensitized plate means for assembling a character line consisting of a plurality of individual character members,- a camera device, and means for shifting said line of character members into position to be projected by said camera device on to said sensitized plate.

2. A photographic type setting machine including means for supporting a sensitized plate means for setting lines of character members suitable for reproduction by photography, a camera device comprising a source of light, a lens carrier, a shutter device, a carrier for each line of characters 'ada ted to be arranged between said source of light and said shutter, and means for antomatically adjusting the focus of the camera device.

3. A photographic type setting machine including means for assembling individual characters suitable for reproduction by photography, a camera device including an adjustable lens carrierand a source of light and a shutter cooperating with said lens, an adjustable sensitized plate carrier, means for shifting a line of type into position between the source of light and the shutter, means for automatically centering the line of characters before the shutter, and means for automatically and simultaneously adjusting the lens carrier and the-sensitized plate carrier.

4. A photographic type setting machine including means for setting lines of individual character members suitable for reproduction by photography, a camera device, a sensitized plate carrier, acarrier for the assembled line of character members, and means controlled by the width of said line ofcharacter members for automatically adjusting the focus of the camera device proportionately to reduce the photographic image width to normal.

5. A photographic type setting machine including an apparatus for assembling in dividual character members suitable for reproduction by photography, :1 carrier for each line of character members, means for elevating said carrier, a camera device including a lens, ashutter, and a source of light, means for raising the carrier for the character members between the sou-roe of light and the shutter, a plate carrier, means for automatically centralizing the lens for short or long lines, means for automatically making a photographic exposure when the line of character members is set and adjusted, and means for shifting the plate carrier a predetermined distance for a new line.

6. A photographic type setting machine including an apparatus for assembling a plurality of individual character members, a shiftable carrier adapted to receive a line of said members, a camera. device including a lens carrier, a shutter, and a source of light, whereby to project said character members through the shutter and to the lens, a sensitized plate carrier slidably mounted atone side of the lens carrier, and means for moving said plate carrier and lens carrier simultaneously in accordance with a predetermined scale of proportionate movement for enlargement or reduction.

7. A photographic type setting machine including an apparatus for assembling a plurality of individual character members, a shiftable carrier adapted to receive 'aline of said members, a camera device including a lens carrier, a shutter, and a source of light, whereby to project said character members through the shutter-and to the lens, a sensitized plate carrier slidably mounted and adapted to-actuate said cam means, and

a motor adapted to be connected with said shaft.

8. A photographic type setting machine including an apparatus for assembling lines of individual character members suitable for reproduction by'photography, a carrier for each line of character members, a camera device including a slidable lens carrier, a shutter, and a source of light, a slidable sensitized plate carrier mounted at one side of said lens carrier, means elevating said carrier for the character members into position between the shutter and the source of light, means for operating said last named means and also simultaneously adjusting the lens carrier and plate carrier, and compensating means for adjusting the line of character members consisting of a reciprocal rod havin a plunger whose position is determined y the end character of the line, a rack formed on sa-id rod and a bell crank lever having an arcua'te racked head engaging the teeth of the reciprocal rod, a focusing device controlled by said bell crank lever, and a cam mechanism for periodically drawing said compensating means out of action until such a time as a line of character members is positioned in front of the lens.

9. A photographic type setting machine including an apparatus for assembling individual character members suitable for reproduction by photography, a frame, a sensitized plate carrier, a lens carrier also slidably mounted in the frame, means for automatically adjusting the lens carrier with reference to the plate carrier, a carrier for the character members, means for shifting 105 said latter carrier into position to cooperate with tlie lens of the lens carrier, and means for centralizing said lens of the lens carrier when the line of character members is adjusted, said means consisting of a racked arm capable of laterally moving the lens jacket, a pinion engaging said racked arm, and means for rotating said pinion.

In testimony whereof I have attired my signature hereto this 19th day of December 115 1921. i

JOHN ROBERTSON; 

